From Equatorial Guinea to Tanzania, from Accra to Addis Ababa, and now from Nairobi to Kigali, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is intensifying his continental economic diplomacy, taking Nigeria’s reform agenda directly to Africa’s business and investment elite.
In a statement issued by the presidential spokesman Sunday Dare, and made available to The News Chronicle, the President’s latest mission was presented as a bold effort to market Nigeria as one of the world’s most attractive destinations for large-scale investment despite ongoing economic reforms and transitional challenges.
According to the statement, Tinubu administration is positioning the country as Africa’s leading investment frontier, banking on Nigeria’s massive population, rising consumer demand, expanding technology ecosystem, infrastructure opportunities, and abundant natural resources to attract global capital.
“From telecommunications to entertainment and fintech, several multinational firms that entered Nigeria reportedly exceeded their initial growth projections due to the country’s vast market potential.
South African telecom giant MTN Group, for instance, transformed its Nigerian operation into one of its most profitable businesses after entering the market in 2001. Today, MTN Nigeria remains one of the most valuable firms on the Nigerian Exchange, generating trillions of naira in annual revenue.
Similarly, MultiChoice, promoters of DStv, also found Nigeria to be one of its strongest commercial markets, driven by rapid urbanisation and consumer demand”. The statement noted.
The administration believes such success stories reinforce Nigeria’s long-term investment appeal despite visible economic difficulties.
President Tinubu is expected to push that narrative strongly at the Africa CEO Forum 2026 in Kigali, where thousands of investors, chief executives, policymakers, financiers, and multinational corporations are expected to converge to discuss Africa’s economic future.
The forum is seen as a strategic platform for Nigeria to market its ongoing reforms, including fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate liberalisation, tax reforms, infrastructure concessions, power sector restructuring, gas commercialisation, and digital economy expansion.
The Presidency argues that while the reforms have triggered short-term turbulence, they are laying the groundwork for long-term economic stability and profitability.
Officials also believe global investors understand that major investment opportunities often emerge during periods of structural transition, placing Nigeria in a strong position under the African Continental Free Trade Area framework.
Since assuming office, President Tinubu has embarked on several continental engagements aimed at deepening economic cooperation and attracting foreign investment. In August 2024, he visited Equatorial Guinea to advance oil and gas cooperation, while in January 2025 he attended the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit in Tanzania.
However, Kigali is being projected as more than another diplomatic stop. The administration sees it as a major investment roadshow where Nigeria will present itself as Africa’s most compelling destination for enterprise, industrial expansion, and scalable profitability.
The message from the Tinubu government, according to presidential spokesman Sunday Dare, is that Nigeria is repositioning itself not just as Africa’s largest market by population, but as its biggest opportunity for investors willing to bet on long-term growth.
